Since taking over from Will and Rosie, we have postponed the use of our hatchery while we relocate it on-site. We hope to have this backup and running ready for next season.

Will and Rosie have always prided themselves in producing strong, healthy quality fish from the fish farm.  They have been supplying fisheries, angling clubs and private estates all over the country now for well over 20 years. We as the new owners intend to carry this on with Will and Rosie’s support and knowledge.

Key to the success of the operation has been the ability to spawn the majority of our fish species.  These have been produced from carefully selected brood stock that are brought into the hatchery in early springtime. They are artificially induced to spawn using a combination of daylight length temperature and hormone injection.  Eggs from the females are carefully stripped into bowls and mixed with the milt of males.

Over the next few hours, the eggs swell and once hardened off are transferred to incubation vessels (Zuger jars).  The fish larvae develop over 3-6 days (depending upon species) until they are ready to hatch.  From this stage onwards they are reared in shallow troughs and fed on a natural diet of Artemia spp.  Outdoor pools are then prepared for stocking the fry by making sure that the aquatic invertebrate life is of a suitable size and quantity.  Each year the fish rearing pools are drained and left to completely dry out.  Lime is then spread on the bottom of the pools (as a disinfectant) before being filled with spring water.  Regular cropping and management of the fish pools then ensures that fish are thinned out for growing on ready for sale. Although we may have some species available in bigger sizes these will be limited and it is best to ring and check availability.  We mainly sell smaller-sized fish which are ideal for stocking or growing on.